India has experienced a consistent increase in targeted violence against Christians since 2014, according to a recent report by the United Christian Forum (UCF), a New Delhi-based ecumenical body that documents such incidents across the country.
In a press statement, UCF revealed that 745 incidents of violence were reported on its toll-free helpline from January to November 2024. This marks a slight increase from the 743 incidents recorded in 2023. The report highlights a growing trend over the years, with incidents rising from 127 in 2014 to 601 in 2022, before exceeding 700 in the past two years.
A C Michael, UCF’s convener, noted that these figures do not account for attacks on Christians and churches in Manipur, where sectarian violence since May 3, 2023, has resulted in over 250 deaths and displaced 60,000 people, primarily Christians.
“This is despite Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely practice and propagate one’s religion,” Michael stated in a conversation with UCA News on December 22.
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish a national-level inquiry to address the escalating persecution of the Christian minority in the country. Modi’s tenure as the leader of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began in 2014 and has seen continued electoral success in 2019 and 2024.
Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state by population, reported the highest number of incidents with 182 cases, followed by Chhattisgarh with 139 incidents.
Source: ucanews.com